5.1.

2 Gas Tungsten-Arc Welding (GTAW)

The maximum bead width shall be 3/8 in. (10 mm).
The GTAW power source shall be operated using a high frequency arc-starting circuit.
Autogenous welding (without filler metal) is prohibited.
5.1.3 Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)
Flux used shall be "neutral" and shall not contribute alloying elements to the weld.
The maximum bead width shall be seven times the electrode diameter.
For all base materials, except carbon steel, when CVN impact testing is required, the
production welding consumables shall be essential variables for the WPS. In this case,
production SAW consumables are restricted to the same Manufacturer and Brand as
were used for the supporting PQR with supporting CVN data.
Material for run-on and run-off pads shall be known (or chemically verified) and shall
be the same P-Number as the base metal to be welded.
Use of SAW flux manufactured from crushed SAW slag (re-crushed) is prohibited.
Production single pass butt welds for pressure boundary joints shall be CVN tested at
MDMT or shall be given a grain refining (austenitization) heat treatment.
5.1.4 Gas-Shielded Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW)
The gas-shielded FCAW may be used for P-1 through P-8 Group 1 materials, subject to
following conditions :
Welds for pressure containing equipment shall be 100% radiographed or 100%
ultrasonically examined. Welds for API storage tanks are exempt from this
requirement.
Only electrodes identified by the Manufacturer as multi-pass shall be used.
The maximum bead width shall be 3/4 in. (19 mm). For weave beads, the range of
transverse motion for the electrode shall be maximum 5x the electrode diameter.
A shielding gas is employed, and the transfer mode is not short-circuiting.
The FCAW process shall not be used for the root pass of single side welded joints.
Production welding positions shall be in strict accordance with the FCAW
classification designation per ASME Sect. II, Part C.
For all base materials except carbon steel, weld overlay, and weld back cladding, the
production FCA welding consumables are restricted to the same Manufacturer and
Brand as were used for the supporting PQR when CVN impact testing is required.
5.1.5 Gas Metal Arc Welding GMAW (spray, pulse spray transfer modes)
The GMAW process with pulse-spray or spray transfer may be used for P-1 through P-8
Group 1 materials, subject to the following conditions :
Welds for pressure containing equipment shall be 100% radiographed or 100%
ultrasonically examined. Welds for API storage tanks are exempt from this
requirement.
The maximum bead width shall be 3/4 in. (19 mm).